Major League Soccer, in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), today announced exclusive MLS-featured programming at the 2017 NSCAA Convention. Included among the exciting slate of NSCAA events at the Convention, to be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, are a special spotlight session with MLS Commissioner Don Garber, the 2017 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, and a formal presentation of the 2016 MLS Coach of the Year Award.
The NSCAA Convention, touted as the World’s Largest Gathering of Soccer Coaches and Administrators, begins Wednesday, January 11 and will feature five days of live presentations, educational opportunities and social activities.
Friday, January 13 will bring an action-packed schedule of NSCAA and MLS collaborations, kicking off with Commissioner Garber’s spotlight session at 9:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. ET. During the spotlight session, attendees will hear directly from the Commissioner on a wide range of topics.
Also taking place that day, and a part of the NSCAA Convention since 2003, the 2017 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas will begin at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET. Fans can watch live on the MLS Facebook page and MLS YouTube Channel as college seniors, Generation adidas players and Youth Internationals hope to be selected by one of the 22 MLS clubs ahead of the 2017 season.
Rounding out the evening on January 13, the MLS Coach of the Year Award will be presented to FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja at the NSCAA Awards Banquet, which begins at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET. Pareja led his club to an historic MLS double that featured a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title and the highest regular season points total to claim the 2016 MLS Supporters’ Shield.
During the NSCAA Awards Banquet, NSCAA President Amanda Vandervort, who also serves as MLS Vice President of Social Media and Customer Relationship Management (CRM), will present Orlando City SC Founder and President Phil Rawlins with the Presidential Recognition Award for Orlando City SC’s community leadership in the wake of the Pulse nightclub tragedy. Vandervort will also present NSCAA Letters of Commendation to legendary, former MLS coaches Bruce Arena and Sigi Schmid.
Saturday, January 14 will feature special guest appearances from MLS and U.S. Men’s National Team stars as forward Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) and goalkeeper Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids) attend the NSCAA All-America Luncheon, which begins at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET. Howard, a nationally and internationally recognized icon in goal, will be named a 2017 NSCAA Honorary All-American for bringing distinctive recognition and attention to soccer through his personal and professional efforts. After a celebrated return to MLS in July 2016, Howard led the Rapids to the 2016 MLS Western Conference Championship.
Following the luncheon, Altidore, U.S. Soccer’s reigning 2016 Male Player of the Year and a 2016 MLS Cup finalist, will host a special question-and-answer spotlight session at 3:45 p.m. PT/6:45 p.m. ET. During this exclusive event, Altidore will share insights from his professional soccer career that began at age 16, highlight the great coaches who have impacted his journey, and speak about his new community focused initiative: Footy Market.
Below is a complete listing of notable MLS-related programming at the NSCAA Convention. All times are PST and the schedule is subject to change.
Thursday, January 12
12:45 p.m.
Player Development Panel:
- Fred Lipka, MLS Technical Director of Player Youth & Development
12:45 p.m.
Spotlight Session:
- Bruce Arena and Sigi Schmid, Former MLS Head Coaches
12:45 p.m.
New York Red Bulls Way:
- Ali Curtis, New York Red Bulls Sporting Director
2:15 p.m.
Reducing Injury Risk Field Session:
- John DeWitt, Houston Dynamo Sports Performance Coach
2:15 p.m.
- Coaching Development Panel:
Jerome Vivona, New York Red Bulls Regional Training Programs Manager
3:45 p.m.
Analytics Panel:
- Jeff Agoos, MLS Vice President of Competition
- Dave Tenney, Seattle Sports Science & Performance Manger
- Stewart Mairs, D.C. United Director of Soccer Strategy & Analysis
- Oliver Gage, Houston Dynamo Performance Analyst
- Devin Pleuler, Toronto FC Analytics Manager
Friday, January 13
9:30 a.m.
Spotlight Session:
- MLS Commissioner Don Garber
9:30 a.m.
Club Leadership Panel:
- Paul Holocher, San Jose Earthquakes Academy Director
9:30 a.m.
Nutrition Panel:
- Kristen Andrews, LA Galaxy Sports Dietitian
9:30 a.m.
Use of Data Lecture:
- John DeWitt, Sports Performance Coach, Houston Dynamo
11 a.m.
Switching Point of Attack Field Session:
- Fred Lipka, MLS Technical Director of Player Youth & Development
- Mike Muñoz, LA Galaxy Academy Director
11 a.m.
Utilizing Your Entire Staff Lecture:
- Ivan Pierra, LA Galaxy Director of Sports Science
12 p.m.
2017 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas
1:15 p.m.
Injury Prevention Lecture:
- Bert Mandlebaum, LA Galaxy Chief Medical Officer
2:45 p.m.
Switching Point of Attack Field Session:
- Fred Lipka, MLS Technical Director of Player Youth & Development
- Mike Muñoz, LA Galaxy Academy Director
7-10 p.m.
NSCAA Awards Banquet:
- Oscar Pareja, FC Dallas Head Coach (MLS Coach of the Year presentation)
- Phil Rawlins, Orlando City SC President (NSCAA Presidential Recognition Award)
- Bruce Arena and Sigi Schmid, Former MLS Head Coaches
- (Letters of Commendation)
Saturday, January 14
9:30 a.m.
Cognitive Load Field Session:
Mike Rabasca, Toronto FC Director of High Performance
12-3 p.m.
NSCAA All-America Luncheon:
- Tim Howard, Colorado Rapids and USMNT goalkeeper (Honorary All-American)
- Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC and USMNT forward
12:45 p.m.
Spotlight Session:
- Chris Klein, LA Galaxy President
2:15 p.m.
Transitional Moments Field Session:
- Ricky King, New York Red Bulls Academy Coach Education and Recruitment Manager
2:15 p.m.
Physical Preparation Lecture:
- Dave Tenney, Seattle Sounders FC Sports Science and Performance Manager
3:45 p.m.
Spotlight Session:
- Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC and USMNT forward
3:45 p.m.
Player Development Lecture:
- Oliver Gage, Houston Dynamo Performance Analyst